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Hairstyles

Floral Hairstyles

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Hair Accessories

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DIY Hairstyles

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DIY Wedding Hairstyles

Photography: Ben Ritter

Simple Yet Sleek Styles

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You don't need a professional to get hair that's as gorgeous as your gown; you can easily create an eye-catching style on your own. These versatile looks deliver maximum impact but require minimum skill. The hardest part is choosing one for the big day.

Photography: Ben Ritter

The Modern Updo

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Severe, shellacked wedding hair is stay-proof but not exactly pretty. Here's a great way to relax the classic updo.

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Photography: Ben Ritter

Prep with Curls

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Generously spritz your favorite extra hold hairspray all over, and spiral-curl hair in small sections using a one-inch curling iron.

Photography: Ben Ritter

Divide in Half

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Using fingers, loosely pull all hair back from the face, leaving plenty of volume at the hairline. Split hair in half in the back and gently twist each side several times, until you have two long twisted pieces. Do not make these tight.

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Photography: Ben Ritter

Criss-Cross Finish

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Draw the sections together, crossing the left over the right. Depending on length, repeat this process until about three inches of ends remain. Pull the ends up, and secure them against your head using several bobby pins, then tuck and pin all stray strands.

Photography: Ben Ritter

An Elegant Chignon

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You probably recognize this look from almost every red carpet, but this one is much simpler to execute on your own.

Overlap Layers

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Take a one-inch piece of hair in the front; roll it up and around two fingers and clip for five minutes. Remove clip and gently pull that piece back along the hairline, incorporating sections from the right and left sides (each one about three inches wide) and overlapping as you go; secure to the back of your head with bobby pins.

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Photography: Ben Ritter

Loop into a Bun

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Continue pulling back sections from the right and left, then loop the ends into a relaxed bun and secure with pins.

Photography: Ben Ritter

Beach Braids

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Bring your free-spirit style up a notch for the aisle with this easy-to-master look.

Secure the Twists

Secure this braid in the back with an elastic. Straight-braid a two-inch piece along the shorter hairline; hold tight.</p>

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Photography: Ben Ritter

Pin it Up

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Remove the elastic and twist the end of the braids together, anchoring them in the center back of head with clips that match your hair's hue, such.

Photography: Craig Cutler

The New French Twist

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Your mom is right: Everyone wants to see your pretty face, especially at your wedding. So get those strands out of your eyes!

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Boost Volume

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First, prepare damp hair with volumizer, and blow-dry it with a round boar-bristle brush. Then spritz on a lightweight texturizer for extra body. We like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.

Photography: Craig Cutler

Pull Back a Pony

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Next, sweep hair into a low ponytail an inch or two away from the nape of your neck, and secure it with a clear band like Scünci No Damage Elastics (available at drugstores). Create volume at the crown by grasping a small piece of hair from the middle of the pony and holding it steady as you slide the elastic up toward your head with your other hand.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Do the Twist

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Position one hand at the center of the back of your head, fingers down, and use the other to wrap your ponytail around your index and middle fingers, forming a twist. Secure it along your head with large pins, such as Goody 3" Bobby Pins (available at drugstores). Snip the elastic with scissors (better yet, ask a bridesmaid to do it).

Photography: Craig Cutler

Add Imperfections

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Using your fingers, gently loosen strands at the crown and sides of your head, and around your face. "That imperfect wispiness is what makes this chic and youthful," says New York City stylist Oscar Blandi. Finish with firm-hold hair spray to make the look last. Try BlowPro After Blow Strong Hold Finishing Spray (ulta.com).

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Photography: Craig Cutler

The Sleek Bun

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Timeless and easy peasy for many lengths, this style works for the main event -- or your rehearsal dinner or shower.

Photography: Craig Cutler

The Perfect Part

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Apply volumizer, such as Phyto Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray (sephora.com), to damp hair. Then use a comb to create a part that lines up with the arch of your eyebrow. Mist it with firm-hold hair spray to tamp down flyaways.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Create a Low Ponytail

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Pull your hair back into a low ponytail and begin securing it with an elastic, but stop halfway when pulling your strands through for the last time, forming a loop with a dangling tail. "Run your hand over the tail to bring wild hairs together," says Myron Chin, a New York City stylist. "Part of what makes this look so pulled together is a smooth shape."

Photography: Craig Cutler

Secure with Pins

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Slip your finger through the loop of hair, press it up until it meets the back of your head, and attach it with wire U-pins, which "hold a ton of hair but are really discreet," says Chin, who likes Sta-Rite Hair Pins (sallybeauty.com). To use one, insert it with tips pointing up, and then flip it so the ends are facing downward, and push in.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Tuck and Secure

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To complete, draw the hanging tail section from the left side of your original ponytail's base to the right, tucking its ends under the top loop, and anchoring it with pins to create a bun. The Bombshell Collection Rubberized Bobby Pins have a griplike coating so they won't slip out mid-dance-floor dip (folica.com).

Photography: Craig Cutler

Pressed Waves

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With its face-framing curls, "this look is just as polished as any updo," says Jasmine Galazka, a stylist in New York City.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Basic Blow-Out

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Spray damp roots with a thickener like John Frieda Blow Dry Lotion Root Booster (available at drugstores). Twist pieces of hair and pin them back. Then, blow-dry each one with a round brush, bending the ends under.

Photography: Craig Cutler

Create Curls

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Take a 2-inch section of hair from the front of your head and mist it with medium-hold hair spray; try Oscar Blandi Lacca Hairspray (sephora.com). Curl it under with a 1-inch-barreled curling iron, and hold for 5 seconds before releasing. Galazka's favorite is Hot Tools Professional 1" Curling Iron.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Roll Each Ringlet

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Roll the ringlet up around your finger to create a circle, and secure with a clip that won't form creases, such as Salon Care Metal Duckbill Clips (sallybeauty.com). Repeat, working from your forehead to the nape of your neck, curling, twirling, and pinning, until all your hair is up. Let the pinned curls cool for 10 minutes to help set the style.

Photography: Craig Cutler

Let Loose

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Unclip the bottom third of your curls, spritz them with hair spray, and lightly brush the ringlets into waves with a paddle brush. Then repeat with every pinned-up layer until all your hair is combed out, and rub a drop of serum onto your ends for extra shine. We like L'Oreal Paris EverStyle Smooth & Shine Serum (available at drugstores).

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Photography: Craig Cutler

The Braided Updo

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"This look is relaxed, sophisticated, and unexpected," says Chin, making it ideal for a free-spirited bride in a floaty gown.

Photography: Craig Cutler

Dry and Curl

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Apply gel, like Alterna Bamboo Style Freestyle Flexible Control Gel (sephora.com), to damp hair from roots to tips and blow-dry with a round brush. Curl 3-inch sections with a 1-inch-barreled curling iron, and hold for 5 seconds.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

French Braid

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Once all your hair is curled, break up the ringlets with your fingers to form waves that will help keep the braid together. Use your natural part as a starting point, and create a side French braid, hugging your hairline and grazing the top of your ear as you go. Tie it off with a clear elastic. If the style's not perfect, that's even better for a laid-back feel, Chin says.

Photography: Craig Cutler

Loosen and Spray

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Working from the top of the braid, lightly loosen the woven strands with your fingers (it's okay if small pieces poke out here and there -- actually, that’s the idea). Try pulling out a couple of wisps for added softness, too. When you like the way it looks, mist hair with firm-hold hair spray, applying it more heavily on the braid itself.

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Photography: Craig Cutler

Roll and Secure

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Grasp the end of your braid, and gently roll it up until it rests underneath your ear and to the side of your neck. When you've got it in place, secure the updo with U-pins. The style should be fairly indestructible, but a few final spritzes of hair spray won't hurt. And when you eventually take it down, you'll have masses of lush waves.